Colin Farrell read a heartbreaking eulogy to his late father at his funeral today.
The Hollywood star, 48, was seen with his close family and other mourners at the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Ballymun in Dublin. Once inside, he paid tribute to his beloved dad, Eamonn, a star footballer who played for Shamrock Rovers during the 1960s.
The patriarch passed away aged 83 at Beaumount Hospital after a “long illness bravely borne”, his family announced.
Eamonn and Colin’s mum Rita split when he was young, and both remarried. Eamonn is survived by his second wife Eileen and his children Eamon, Catherine, Claudine and Colin. He also had eight step-children and five grandchildren including Colin’s sons James, 21, and 15-year-old Henry.
Speaking at the funeral, Colin shared some deeply personal memories of his dad, telling mourners, “I was mad about you.” He said: “Hey dad, I’m sitting on my bed now, Thursday the 11th, it’s 3am and I’m trying to think what to write and how to honour you with a few words.
“I’ve been staring into space, frozen for about two hours now. It seems impossible to try and encapsulate all that you meant to me in 48 years of being father and son. I suppose I should start with a simple truth. I’m so glad you were my dad.
“We had our share of tricky enough times along the path, but what fathers and sons don’t. But as I grew into manhood, and particularly as I too became a dad, all I could and can remember are the good times.
“More importantly, all I can feel are the good times we shared. Of course I feel them now through the lens of loss, these moments frozen in time.
“Like being five years old and sitting on your lap in my Spider-Man pyjamas with a stretchy Incredible Hulk toy in my hands.”
Colin made sure that his dad’s passion for football was front and centre of his memorial, reportedly bringing a Shamrock Rovers shirt to place on the altar.
He continued: “You knew the game, football, inside and out. It was such a huge part of your life and you passed your love for it onto me in ways that will stay with me forever.
“I remember one day you said to one of my teammates during training, ‘well done, son’. Harmless enough. Well done, son.
“And I went up to you afterward and I said, ‘he’s not your son, I am’.
“I’d love to think I was being humorous, but alas, I wasn’t. And I know you loved that moment.
“You thought it was gas [funny]. You told everyone about it for the next 20 years or so. He’s not your son, I am. I loved being your son, dad.
“You were a god to me growing up. And even in my early childhood, in my early adulthood, during my drinking days.
“Even though I was from the mean streets of Castleknock, I’d seek out the inner city pubs that had all the old fellas in them.”
Banshees of Inisherin star Colin has always loved reflecting on his happy family life. Speaking of growing up, Colin said: “I was the baby, so I got away with more. My parents weren’t as hawkeyed with me and I think my older brother got the brunt of it and my sisters a little less.
“They will all tell you I had the easiest time, but I don’t think it was because I was the favourite, I think just as a result of my parents’ fatigue!”
He also spoke of his dad’s football career in the sixties before moving on to other ventures. “Dad played football till he was 26 or 27,” he said.
“After that he owned a fish-and-chip shop by a golf course, The Little Chip Inn. Honest to God. He never let us forget the wit of that. Then he had a restaurant. He has a health-food store in Dublin called Down To Earth.”
Colin also referred to his family during his winners speech at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in February. The star won the Best Male Actor gone for his role in The Penguin and said on stage: “Thanks to my mum, Rita, my dad, Eamon, and the two people in my life who have made my life so much more special and so much more meaningful, so much more joyful than I ever truly thought possible – my son James and my son, Henry.”
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